Book: Valentina by Carrie Ward
Reviewed by thebookishkiwikaz
Rating: 4.5/5
Valentina is a dark, addictive mafia romance packed with humor, heart, protective men, and enough spice to leave you fanning yourself. 🥵🔥
Valentina is a strong FMC who wants absolutely nothing to do with made men or the mafia world that has already taken so much from her family. Unfortunately for her, avoiding the mafia is nearly impossible when her family owns the funeral home the mafia uses. Add in an overbearing father who constantly seems determined to make her life harder, and it's easy to understand why she's built walls around herself.
I connected with Valentina immediately. She's fiercely loyal to her family, constantly putting everyone else's needs before her own, and has convinced herself that a relationship with a mafia man is the last thing she wants. The problem? Michael and Rocco seem to have other ideas.
For a good portion of the book, Valentina and Michael are busy pretending they have no interest in each other, while fun-loving Rocco seems determined to push everyone toward the obvious chemistry simmering beneath the surface. Watching the relationship develop between the three of them was so much fun, especially as Valentina slowly allowed herself to embrace what she truly wanted.
Michael and Rocco couldn't be more different, yet together they were absolutely perfect for her. Michael is definitely the grumpier protector, giving off elite "touch her and die" energy that I absolutely loved. Rocco balances him perfectly with his warmth, charm, and unwavering devotion. Both men put Valentina at the center of their world, and their love and protectiveness shine through in every interaction.
And the chemistry? Whew. 🔥🔥🔥 The spice in this book is next level. That first scene with all three of them together had me blushing, and somehow the heat only keeps escalating from there. Carrie Ward knows exactly how to write tension, chemistry, and scenes that leave you desperately turning pages.
Between the addictive age-gap MFM dynamic, the possessive alpha energy, the humor, and the unique funeral home setting, I genuinely couldn't put this book down. I found myself cheering for Valentina every step of the way, wanting her to stand up for herself, take control of her life, and finally allow herself to be loved.
Valentina delivers everything I want from a dark mafia romance: protective heroes, compelling characters, laugh-out-loud moments, emotional depth, and scorching chemistry. If you're a fan of why choose romance, possessive mafia men, and "touch her and die" energy, this one needs to be on your TBR immediately.